Trailers are one of my favorite parts of going to a movie. Often times, they end up being more exciting then the actual film!

Same thing with video games, I get so excited when a new trailer comes out for an anticipated game. And again in some cases, the trailers are better then the game they're advertising. And in the last few years, video game trailers have only improved since the earlier years of gaming.

These are the gaming trailers I believe to be the best of the last 5 years. They range from RPGs to shooters, and all are incredibly exciting. These are my personal favorites and while there are obviously other great trailers out there, these I felt were the most effective in selling their game to me. Share your thoughts on the effectiveness of the trailers listed here, whether or not the games lived up to their trailers, and/or share any other great trailers that didn't make the list (there are plenty).

It's amazing the things that can help you through difficult times. Sometimes you can find it in a friend or family member, perhaps from a song or a book. And sometimes even a video game.

My mother passed away in 2010 from terminal cancer. It was a sudden and quick diagnosis, in a matter of three months we learned of her cancer, she went into chemo-therapy, and died. It was a horrible, sad and painful time for me and my family. I had never experienced the loss of someone so close to my heart before. And I was angry...angry, torn up inside and had so many questions. Why did she have to die? How come the doctors could not do more? Did I do enough to help her in the end?

Everyone deals with death in different ways, and some handle it better then others. I was one of those who did not handle it well. While I put on a good show for the public, inside I was screaming. I wanted to blame someone, anyone, for my loss. I wanted to have someone or something to point the finger at. She didn't just die randomly, right? So many thoughts run through your head, you can't even process them all. I felt so helpless, like no matter how hard I tried, I could never bring her back. No matter how much I helped while she was dying, I couldn't prevent the inevitable.

I tried to find various ways to escape these maddening thoughts, anything to quiet my emotions down. Friends, movies, books, music, food...none of it helped. Suddenly these things just didn't seem important any more. I found myself just leaning against a wall and crying. Crying randomly at times, sometimes in the car, sometimes in the middle of shopping, and sometimes even curled up on the floor. I was very close to my mother, she had always been an advocate for me and my artistic abilities. She fought for me, suffered for me, and understood me like no one else I had known growing up.

My mother had never played a video game before in her life, even with me trying to convince her to play just once throughout my young life. When she learned she had cancer, she came to me and said she wanted to play a video game. Something she could fight against. We got her a PS3, and we both sat down and played a game together for the first time. In retrospect, I realized she didn't want to play a game because she wanted to kill things. She wanted to play because I loved video games, and she wanted to experience that with me. She knew she wasn't going to live much longer, and indeed, she died 2 months later. I used to be somewhat embarrassed of my nerdy-gaming habits - not anymore.

My wife, who was amazing through all of this, knew I needed a distraction, and reminded me that I had reserved Final Fantasy XIII at my local Game Stop, prior to my mom's death. I've been a huge Final Fantasy fan since Final Fantasy VI, and had purchased and beaten every one up till then. Admittedly, with everything that was going, it was nice knowing I got to look forward to something that held a special place in my heart.

FF XIII launched in March that year, two weeks after my mom died. I picked it up and went home on a sunny day. I popped the game in, nestled on my couch and watched the opening cinematics. Strange, why do I feel so different playing a game now? It was like I never understood life before, or understood the depth of it. Death was now a reality in my life, and I found myself pondering about things and perceiving the world with a new set of emotional glasses. Once you see death, it changes everything. So here I was, watching this beautiful intro, and I found myself captivated in a way I never had before. The music, while I always would have considered it beautiful, was moving me in ways a soundtrack hadn't before. The characters expressions, I received different perceptions of them as well. Like everything had a deeper meaning now. Which brings me to the character of Hope Estheim.

*Warning as the following contains Spoilers from Final Fantasy XIII*

I watched as Hope's mother was torn from him. I recognized the pain and anguish he was going through. I noticed the same anger and suffering he was feeling, toward himself and everyone around him. And how he wanted to blame someone for her death. In this case, his anger was directed at Snow. Throughout the game, we watch as he continues to cope with his loss, as he tries to find answers. He wants an explanation, anything to help him understand how this could have happened, why this happened. And how he finally comes to terms with what has happened, and learns to forgive himself, and those around him. Yes, even forgiving his mother for leaving him. It was then I realized how angry I had been, how similar I was to Hope, and how through the process of playing this game I was learning to deal with the loss of my own mother. And yes, even to forgive. It's strange how we need to forgive ourselves at these times, and forgive even the person who passes away. We get angry at ourselves for not being able to do enough to help them, or perhaps weren't there enough to begin with. Sometimes we even blame the ones who die, saying "Why did he/she leave me?", "They should've known better!", or "They've left me so alone...". We have to come to that place where we learn it's not anyone else's fault, and it's not our fault. Death is a part of life, something we all must face some day. And we do our best to be there for those loved ones, and realize it's okay to feel sad, it's okay to go through all of the emotions. We all have to cope with death in our own individual ways, and for me, a video game helped get me through it. Final Fantasy XIII came right at a point in my life where I needed hope, and while I was receiving that hope from different areas, getting to play as Hope and live through this character helped give me purpose and understanding with what I was going through. It helped me to see my situation from the outside in. And I am forever grateful for that. While there are times I still am dealing with the memories and the sadness, at the same time I've also learned to remember the good times, the joyful times, and a smile comes across my face. I have played XIII-2 as well, and will purchase Lightning Returns when it comes out. I have played hundreds of games across multiple platforms since the 80's, and Final Fantasy XIII is the most personal for me. One of the writers at Square-Enix understood what it means to lose someone. And knowing there was someone else who understood, helped me to not feel so alone.

Having friends and family is always the best solution when you are struggling, nothing compares to sitting down with someone and talking about your issues. I wouldn't recommend relying solely on a video game to cope with a tragedy in your life. However when you're by yourself, and find yourself drifting off to a dark place, sometimes it's good to escape for a bit. Some people read a book, some people watch a movie, some may even ski down a 1000 ft. slope. Final Fantasy XIII was my escape, and even more proof that video games are not just entertainment - they are art, and like any art form, can express the deepest wants, desires and statements of the human race. And at times, they can even help us cope with loss. In my case, I just needed a little Hope.

System launches usually disappoint. Developers are rushed to get a game completed in time for a system's release, and they don't have a grip on the many facets of the new system. This means that most launch games fail to impress.

However there are a few select titles that are not only classics now, they successfully did their job...move systems into people's homes.

Here are what I consider to be the top ten launch games ever released, in order:

10. Duck Hunt (NES)

This was a close call, as Excitebike was also released with the original NES launch. However Duckhunt simply was a blast, literally. You had a gun, and got to shoot your TV at home with your smiling, crazy companion dog. One poor duck at a time.

9. F-Zero (SNES)

The SNES had a pretty good launch lineup, and F-Zero is no exception. Introducing Mode 7 graphics and the first true sci-fi racer (that looked good), this series is still many people's favorite 22 years on.

8. Rayman (PS1)

The PS1 didn't have the best selection for a launch. It really wouldn't have any great games for another year. However there were a couple of games that held true, and they were Rayman and Ridge Racer. Ridge Racer obviously went on to be highly successful, however Rayman I always felt was the better game. Artistically beautiful world, magical characters and music, and truly unlike any platformer I had played before. And many years later, with the release of the Rayman Origins games, it has proven itself to be timeless.

7. SSX (PS2)

PS2 actually had a pretty good lineup, lots of choices and many genres represented. But without a doubt the game everyone was playing was SSX. This truly showed off what the PS2 could do, and was the most fun you could have on a weekend with friends. It revolutionized sports games and especially snowboarding games.

6. Soul Calibur (Dreamcast)

The Dreamcast was a gem of a system, and it's launch was one of the best. Soul Calibur is to this day one of the best fighters ever produced. It was a great showcase for the system graphically, it was both easy for novice's to get into and a deep enough fighting system for advanced players. It would also go on to produce some stellar sequels. If you had this game, you were the coolest kid on the block.

5. The Legend of Zelda: The Twilight Princess (Wii)

This was the first and only time a Zelda game would launch with a system. And man, this was a big one. The first truly mature looking Zelda title, this was a perfect companion for the brand new Wii. It showed off both the Wii's graphics power and utilized it's new motion controls in fun and exciting ways. And it's Zelda, you just don't get a bigger adventure than that!

4. Halo: Combat Evolved (XBOX)

Where does one start? This game is STILL affecting the industry. Besides the numerous sequels and spinoffs it has produced (all great), they all point back to the original. This game not only changed the FPS genre (and multiplayer) forever, it also cemented console newcomers Microsoft as a force to be reckoned with. An amazing launch title, and still an amazing experience.

3. Super Mario World (SNES)

Seeing Mario in 16 bit for the first time was glorious, and the game ended up not being so bad either. Okay, it's a masterpiece. And to make it more awesome, the SNES came with the game for free! Super Mario World was a staple for a very long time, and truly still one of the best Mario games to date.

2. Super Mario 64 (N64)

The game that made you believe. It certainly made me believe. Could gaming escape the boundaries of 2D, and exist in a fully realized 3D world? Attempts had been made before, but not to the extent of Mario 64. The first moment you take a swim with that giant eel, you realized that gaming would never be the same again. Mario 64 made us feel like we had been living inside a cave our whole lives. A pretty cave, but a cave none the less. Once you made 3D Mario do his first triple jump, you were brought kicking and screaming out of that cave, and into the beautiful beyond. The industry is still feeling the effects of this game, and is still one of the best. And even better, it was a free pack in with your brand new N64!

1. Super Mario Bros. (NES)

The game that started it all. This original NES title both changed the industry and saved it at the same time. It sold millions of NES systems, and made Nintendo a household name. It's the pinnacle that all other games are still compared to, and the one all gamers and developers are still saying thanks to even to this day. Quite literally, this game is solely responsible for saving the gaming industry. Super Mario Bros., we salute you!

Sonic Adventure - Another Dreamcast launch title, this one has not aged as well, however at the time was a showstopper. The first true Sonic game, this was the equivalent for Sega's Dreamcast launch as Mario had been for Nintendo. If you bought a Dreamcast, you more than likely bought this one too. And man it impressed. Sonic's speed rushes through Emerald Coast will forever be seared into my brain.

Panzer Dragoon - One of the ultimate rail-shooters, this one also doesn't hold up as well now however was an amazing experience when first released. You got to ride dragons and shoot things! And the music!

Let me first admit I am a huge Nintendo fan. I grew up with them, I admire them, and their characters have stuck with me for most of my life.

I also love Sega, Sony, Microsoft, and PC. I even love to pull out my iPhone and play a little "Rayman Fiesta" from time to time.

The thing is, as amazing as Nintendo has and always will be, other developers have risen over the years and proven themselves to be worthy of people's time and money. Each platform has provided their own innovations and styles, and best of all, they have challenged each other to continue innovating and being their absolute best.

I remember receiving a Sega Genesis for Christmas in '92. I was a huge Nintendo fan, but man, I'd never seen anything like Sonic the Hedgehog before. He was fast, the game looked incredible, and was an obvious step-up for the industry as whole. Sonic the Hedgehog was proof that gamers could handle more then they were given. And over the years, I adored Dynamite Heady, Ecco the Dolphin, the Sonic sequels, Mortal Kombat II and more. During that time, I would also visit my friend's house down the street, and he had an SNES. I loved Donkey Kong Country, Starfox, Street Fighter II and other games that are now classics. Not to mention all of the RPGs. You see, I really liked BOTH systems. They each had their own flavor of gaming, and each brought something to the table that were individually important and captivating. This was the true start of the console wars, and as all my friends argued which one was the best, I found myself both a member of both sides, and a traitor to both sides. You see, I liked them both equally.

I do admit, when Sony first announced their new system, the Playstation, I was apprehensive. Sony? The guys who make TVs and walkmans? Yeah, sure, lets see how THAT turns out. The console wars had already started with Sega and Nintendo, a third party couldn't possibly hold up against those two. And having been both a Nintendo and Sega camper, I was not ready to welcome another company into the group. Okay, I admit, I was completely wrong. Sony not only held up, they would go on to dominate the industry for almost a decade. I finally purchased a Playstation in '97, my first game was Warhawk. I was blown away by not only the 3D visuals, that neither the SNES or Genesis could ever achieve, but also the sound quality. CD quality sound from a console, that's what I'm talking about! Then came games like Tomb Raider, Final Fantasy VII, Metal Gear Solid, Tekken III, Gran Turismo, and the list goes on and on. I was venturing into territory I knew not how to handle. I had become a Nintendo, Sega AND Sony fanboy.

Through all of this, I was also an avid PC gamer. I custom rigged my own PC and started with games like Wolfenstein 3D, then Myst, and have stayed dedicated even to this day. From Mechwarrior 2 to The Dig, from Quake to Unreal Tournament, From Warcraft II to Starcraft II, from Half-Life to Half-Life 2, the list goes on and on. The PC was always at the forefront of sheer graphics power, and even now is still pushing the boundaries further then consoles can handle. I've always looked at this as a blessing, one because I'm a tekkie and love upgrading things. But most importantly, the PC has become the great experimental platform. That is where graphics companies and developers are trying new and exciting ways to push gaming. And once they've developed and proven new ground in both graphics and gameplay, every new console that is released adapts to these PC discoveries, and essentially builds their systems upon what the PC platform has already learned. Basically, the PC has forced every other platform to play catch up, which is a good thing. And with companies like Valve creating innovative new ways to purchase games and socialize, and gaming companies like Blizzard redefining the online MMO experience, their is a lot of life on the PC platform. The PC is an innovative platform, and as long as this keeps happening, we will always be getting consoles that are pushing the envelope.

And then there's Microsoft. I had already been using the Windows platform for years, and appreciated them supporting gaming and creating a platform that gave developers the freedom to make the games they want. However, as apprehensive as I was about Sony making consoles, I was even more apprehensive with the news that Microsoft would be entering the console wars. I felt betrayed as a PC gamer (Microsoft is choosing console gamers over PC gamers, how dare they!). And also, at the time they were pretty much trying to dominate the world. I felt like they were now going to dominate the console business, and eventually just buy out the other companies (they had enough money to). I was already a Nintendo, Sega and Sony fan, please don't get rid of them! Thankfully, I was again proven wrong, as the XBOX was a terrific system that brought us such highlights as Halo, Knights of the Old Republic, Fable and more. They proved to be a healthy and exciting counterpart to the Sony and Nintendo dynamic (Sega was pretty much out of the console business by this point, sadly). They would also be on the forefront of console online multiplayer gaming for some time. I eventually purchase an XBOX in '04, and absolutely loved it.

Over the years, each of these platforms have seen upgrades and new releases. Systems like the XBOX 360, the PS3, the Wii, and now we have new systems like the XBOX One, the PS4, and the Wii U. The PC platform has continued to push the boundaries, with companies like Intel, AMD and Nvidia developing new ways to experience gaming. And each one is absolutely necessary to the gaming business, and the gaming experience.

I have wonderful memories with every one of these platforms. Each one a distinct experience, each one truly unforgettable.

I have become a Nintendo, Sega, Sony, Microsoft and PC fanboy. And I'm proud of it.

Note: Obviously there are systems missing from this list (Sega Saturn and Dreamcast, N64 and PS2, portable systems like the Gameboy and 3DS). Even systems like the 3DO and Jaguar had some games that were great and innovative. These are all terrific systems and I have owned them all. I chose to focus on the entry systems for most of these companies and on the companies themselves, and to start with my earliest memories of when the console wars began (Nintendo vs. Sega). And yes Sega is no longer in the console business, however they have engraved themselves in my heart enough to where I will always acknowledge them as still one of the reigning kings of video game console history. Thanks for reading!

The Wii U's struggles are well known. Not enough games, people aren't buying the system, and their message has been confusing at best. Their internal struggles have also made headlines, ranging from having to borrow people working on Wii U games to fix the 3DS launch, and the tsunami that devastated Japan had slowed their progress in developing for the Wii U. Their is one factor however that has not been talked about much, and one that should be factored in. And that is the major struggle Nintendo has had with transitioning to HD graphics.

The Wii U has been having a tough time, no doubt about it. For sure, the past few months have been extremely quiet on the Big N's front. Their new console launched with lots of fanfare, and even had a new Mario game to it's name. Since then however, there have been no exclusives from Nintendo, and even third party games have been sparse.

Thankfully, the recent release of Pikmin 3 has bucked that trend. Well reviewed, beautiful and memorable, Pikmin 3 proves that Nintendo still knows how to create great games, even in the modern realm of HD.

This does not explain however why they have had such a long dry spell. After the lessons of the 3DS launch, which they themselves said they learned from, why would they make the same mistake again? Why release a system, when they obviously didn't have games ready for it yet?

Blame HD.

Back in 2005, Microsoft released their first HD system. Sony would soon follow with their first HD system in 2006. This was not an easy transition for either company. Most developers will tell you that the upgrade to HD and faster clock-rates was extremely difficult. Not only did it require relearning how to develop their games, it also meant far more work hours, far more man-power and LOTS of money. Basically, developing AAA games in an HD world would require almost double the amount of energy and work to produce. Speak to anyone working at Naughty Dog during the transition from PS2 to PS3 and they can attest to the losses they took (employees especially) due to the difficulty of moving to such a powerful system.

It was a struggle for both the PS3 and XBOX 360. Not many games at launch, not all of them good. It would be a while before either of them hit their stride and started to release bold and innovative games that felt comfortable with HD graphics. It has been almost 8 years years now since those systems launched, and with the PS4 and XBOX One being released this year, it looks like both Sony and Microsoft finally feel at home working with HD graphics. Let's not forget though, there is a third company in the mix here, and they successfully managed to avoid the transition to HD for the last 8 years.

Nintendo had with the Wii the most successful system in video game history. Both innovative and appealing, the Wii established Nintendo as the reigning king for years on end. Of course hard core gamers argue that the system mostly had to it's name a bunch of kiddie games and poor third party releases, which they are right. However it also had all of Nintendo's exclusive series, and each one was a masterpiece. Everything from Zelda to Metroid, the Wii has some of the best Nintendo releases of all time. And their software has sold millions, and made them millions (if not billions). All of this, using simple SD graphics, when compared to the PS3's and XBOX 360's realistic HD graphics. This is a testament to the power and creativity Nintendo has in their in-house development teams, and their willingness to put fun and playability above having the most powerful system.

Their next system, the Wii U, would not be able to avoid HD any longer however. With HD televisions permanently replacing the old tube sets in most stores, they would have to start accommodating their customers with their next system. They would have to bite the bullet and make the transition that Sony and Microsoft had already made years ago. Thus the Wii U was born. With the Wii U, they designed a system that was fully HD compatible, with specs very similar to both Sony's and Microsoft's systems. They even threw innovation in the mix, as they did with the original Wii. A touch based tablet controller, that would allow consumers to have more personal and hands on experience with their games. It all sounded great, and seemed like it would be a smooth transition for them. After all, it's Nintendo, and HD has been around for a while, right? Behind the scenes, it must have been anything but smooth.

Nintendo was now going through the very same transition to HD Sony and Microsoft had to go through 7 years ago. Longer hours, more man-power and lots more money. Nintendo was realizing that they would not be able to create the caliber of games they're known for with small development teams and the workflow they were used to. They realized, perhaps too late, this would not be as easy as they thought. The lessons Sony and Microsoft had to learn the hard way were just now becoming a reality for Nintendo.

It's a learning process, and unfortunately they were having to learn these hard lessons while launching a new system. So difficult was the transition, that they had to delay the release of some of their exclusive games (Pikmin 3 being the major one). Nintendo simply didn't have enough people working on these games, and wasn't prepared for the huge amount of restructuring that would be required to accommodate this new workflow.

You see, Nintendo develops all their games in house. With the exception of games like Smash Brothers U and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, their games are developed solely by the Nintendo team members in Japan. Companies like Sony have the benefit of having several developers creating games for them. Sucker Punch, Naughty Dog, and Guerrilla Games just to name a few. Which means Sony has many options for games on their system, and consistent games being released. Nintendo has different teams under their name, however they are all still in house and they only had so many employees ready for developing for Wii U. After the disaster launch of the 3DS, Nintendo had to pull employees out of Wii U development and help save the 3DS. They thought the remaining employees could handle development for their new HD system. In short, HD caught them off guard and now they're playing catch up.

You can see this in some of their upcoming games. As fun and brilliant as they will be, they also seem a little safe. Look at Super Mario Galaxy 2 for the original Wii. A huge game, epic and full of creativity. Tons of work went into it, lots of man-power. About as big as you can possibly make Mario. It even had an orchestrated score! And all of it was in SD. Now look at the upcoming Super Mario 3D World for the Wii U. It will be a total blast to play for sure, however doesn't it seem to be playing it a little safe? It's in HD, but we're not seeing floating worlds in space or flying giant space cruisers either. It's not nearly as epic looking as Mario Galaxy, and probably for a good reason.

Making an HD Galaxy game would've required HUGE input from all of their employees, which would essentially mean that it would be the only game coming from Nintendo this year (and probably would have been delayed until late next year). They simply don't have the workforce (or established workflow yet) to make an HD game of that caliber. They're still getting used to HD, and it shows. We will see these kinds of epic looking games in the future (like the next official Zelda installment), and they are building their workforce now to handle it, but it will take some time and hard work to get there.

Nintendo will catch up of course, however the timing certainly could have been better. Especially with the PS4 and XBOX One coming out, they need to show people that they have made this transition and will have games to back it up. They are going to have to show some boldness and courage in their games, that they are comfortable with developing for their new system. Their track record shows that they will overcome this though, and again with the recent release of Pikmin 3 they have shown they can handle it.

Nintendo may have a history of slowly catching on, but they also have a history of becoming industry leaders and changing how we experience games. Every one of their systems have un-matched masterpieces to their names - the Wii U will not be an exception to this rule. The question is, will consumers give them the benefit of the doubt and trust they will follow through? Only time will tell, but if gamers are willing to look beyond the immediate present, they will find a very bright future awaiting them and the Wii U.